Reclaiming life from malaria

In a village on Guadalcanal, malaria was once considered a way of life, but it is gradually losing its grip on the people.

Harriet Sikua recalls malaria as something that’s expected, relentless, and disruptive. “Before,” she recalls through a translator, “I would always get sick.” Illness from malaria meant staying at home, with no energy, not to mention the repeated visits to clinics that were costly and difficult to reach. Treatment was both a health and financial burden.

Thankfully, that reality is changing.

Since the introduction of indoor residual spraying, which involves applying a long-lasting insecticide to the inside walls and roofs of homes to kill mosquitoes and other pests, and community-based malaria interventions, Harriet’s life and that of her neighbors have changed. The sickness that was once seen as “normal” is fading. “Now,” she says, “I don’t feel affected like before.” These days, months pass without illness, something that once seemed impossible.


Indoor residual spraying has driven malaria cases down in Harriet’s community. Photo: WHO / Ruel Serrano

This change is not accidental. It is the fruit of coordinated efforts among the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, communities, and global partners such as the Government of Japan and the World Health Organization. Together, they are bringing prevention and treatment directly to people, eliminating the need for long, expensive journeys to distant clinics.

Thanks to the generosity of the Government of Japan, the Project has transformed malaria elimination efforts beyond indoor residual spraying. For instance, malaria reporting has shifted from paper-based systems to digital platforms using DHIS2, supported by solar power systems and Starlink satellite connectivity. Forty computer tablets were deployed, resulting in rapid, reliable, data collection, which is crucial for identifying transmission hotspots.

One thousand nine hundred and seventy-three households have received indoor residual spraying through the Project. Plans are underway to expand the activity to all malaria hotspots in Guadalcanal (Zones 1 and 6) and Honiara. Early results show a promising decline in Plasmodium falciparum, the most lethal form of malaria, from 44% in 2023 to 31% in February 2026.


1973 homes have been sprayed so far through the Japan-Solomon Islands malaria reduction project. Photo: WHO / Ruel Serrano

For health promotion officer Felicity Teaitala, who has spent three years working on malaria surveillance and spraying teams, the impact is deeply personal. “It’s important,” she says. “Many of our communities are far from clinics. People cannot afford transport, and even at the clinic, they must pay for the microscope slides, tests, and medicine.”

Her team goes where healthcare often cannot—into remote villages, offering testing, spraying, and education at no cost. “When we come to the community, they don’t have to pay,” she explains. “That makes a big difference.”

But the fight against malaria is not just about access—it’s also about behavior.

Felicity with her team. Aside from leading the IRS team, she advocates for the proper use of mosquito nets to truly bring down malaria cases. Photo: WHO / Ruel Serrano

Despite the availability of mosquito nets, some households still misuse them, repurposing them for fishing, storage, or as rubbish bins instead of for protection. “It’s a challenge,” Felicity admits. “Some people don’t use the nets as intended. But I always remind them that using them properly is key to reducing malaria.”

This highlights a critical truth: eliminating malaria requires both systems and trust. It demands not only resources but also community engagement and understanding.

For Harriet, the benefits are already clear. Fewer illnesses mean more time for family and daily life, freeing her from the constant fear and burden of falling sick. Indoor residual spraying has indeed been impactful. “This is a good project,” she says. “It should continue.”